Peace of Mind

Rasuah adalah satu amalan yang boleh dikatakan diterima oleh masyarakat kita dan dianggap bukan suatu kesalahan atau dosa untuk mengambil atau memberi. Ini boleh dibuktikan dengan melihat keadaan di sekeliling kita, kawan, saudara mara, ahli keluarga dan teman sepejabat.

Definisi rasuah bermaksud 1 perbuatan yg salah di sisi undang-undang spt menerima atau memberi wang suap (pecah amanah, menggelapkan wang, mencuaikan tanggungjawab dll). 2 sesuatu yg diberikan atau yg diterima sbg sokongan.http://prpm.dbp.gov.my/carian.aspx?cari=rasuah&domain=PRPM

Pernahkan anda dengar ungkapan seperti “Biasala bang, nak hidup“. Daripada pemerhatian saya, saya mendapati individu yang menggunakan ayat tersebut banyak terdiri daripada golongan perasuah. Tetapi bagi mereka, apa yang mereka lakukan bukanlah rasuah, tapi salah satu cara untuk mendapat projek atau kontrak ‘demi mencari rezeki’. Maka, disebabkan dengan perkataan ‘rezeki’, segala amalan yang dilakukan untuk mendapat projek atau kontrak tersebut dianggap halal atau ‘biasa’.

Bagi sesetengah orang, atas alasan ‘mencari rezeki‘, individu sanggup melakukan hampir apa saja untuk mendapat sesuatu projek seperti merasuah. Tetapi mereka tidak mencuri, merompak atau ‘tikam belakang’ pesaing mereka kerana pada mereka, itu semua adalah jenayah dan berdosa. Tetapi mereka tidak tahu bahawa rasuah adalah salah satu bentuk mencuri dan merompak, cuma cara melakukannya lebih ‘low profile’ dan bersifat ‘under table’. Maka individu- individu ini berani melakukan rasuah tetapi takut untuk mencuri atau merompak, walhal semua perbuatan tersebut adalah jenayah dan sama sifatnya. Cuma modus operandi nya sedikit berbeza. Rasuah adalah mencuri. Rasuah adalah merompak.

Rasuah adalah amalan yang diterima oleh masyarakat kita, dan sekarang sudah menjadi budaya hidup kita. Kenapa? kata mereka ‘demi mencari rezeki’, ‘nak hidup’, ‘mencari sesuap nasik‘ dan bermacam- macam ayat simpati yang lain. Saya pasti anda mesti pernah mendengar orang disekeliling anda menyebut ayat- ayat tersebut. Mereka tidak sedar bahawa perbuatan mereka adalah sama seperti mencuri atau merompak kerana niat untuk merasuah bergantung pada beberapa sebab:

1. mendapat projek atau kontrak dengan cara paling singkat/ mudah

2. mendapat kelebihan berbanding pesaing anda dalam sesuatu tender

3. mendapat projek atau kontrak tanpa melepasi syarat- syarat tertentu

Apabila anda merasuah untuk mendapat salah satu objektif diatas, ia boleh dirumuskan sebagai mencuri atau menipu. Anda merasuah untuk mendapat kelebihan yang tidak adil berbanding pesaing samalah seperti merompak, kerana anda tahu tanpa rasuah, kemungkinan untuk anda mendapat projek tersebut amat tipis. Maka bagi anda, perbuatan merasuah boleh dijadikan sebagai ‘jaminan’ untuk mendapat projek tersebut. Itulah mencuri namanya. Mencuri dalam erti kata mencuri peluang pesaing anda untuk mendapat projek tersebut secara adil dan saksama.

Dalam proses tender, client akan memilih satu daripada beberapa pembida projek tersebut atas beberapa faktor seperti sebutharga, bekalan stok dan kualiti produk. Tetapi, apabila salah satu pembida merasuah client dengan wang ringgit, client tidak lagi akan membuat keputusan dengan menimbang 3 faktor tersebut, tetapi akan memilih pembida yang merasuah beliau kerana telah diberikan kelebihan yang tidak diberi oleh pembida lain, iatu wang. Tetapi dalam proses tender tidak ada mengatakan bahawa sesiapa yang memberi insentif wang yang lebih banyak akan mendapat projek tersebut, maka perbuatan memberi insentif wang kepada client adalah ‘mendapat kelebihan berbanding pesaing anda dalam sesuatu tender’. Itu adalah rasuah, dan itu adalah jenayah. Tetapi mereka akan kata “biasala bang, nak hidup” dan orang disekeliling mereka akan buat- buat bodoh dan buat biasa. Orang kita.

Kerana itulah saya menyatakan bahawa ‘rasuah adalah satu amalan yang boleh dikatakan diterima oleh masyarakat kita dan dianggap bukan suatu kesalahan atau dosa untuk mengambil atau memberi’. Kerana disebabkan ‘nak hidup’, ‘mencari rezeki’, ‘mencari sesuap nasik’, amalan rasuah tidak salah malah harus dilakukan. Bangsa kita sudah boleh menerima amalan rasuah sebagai salah satu amalan hidup demi mencari rezeki di dunia. Tetapi mereka memutuskan untuk lupa bahawa rasuah itu sama saja dengan mencuri, merompak atau menipu kerana rasuah memberi jaminan pulangan di masa hadapan. Ingatlah perasuah- perasuah semua, perbuatan anda sama saja dengan mencuri dan merompak. Ini adalah amalan yang keji dan anda berlindung dibelakang simpati orang lain dengan menggunakan ayat- ayat seperti ‘nak hidup’ atau ‘mencari rezeki’. Anda perlu tahu bawaha untuk hidup atau mencari rezeki, rasuah bukanlah cara yang perlu diikuti dan ia adalah satu bentuk jenayah baik dari segi moral dan agama. Itu tidak boleh dipertikaikan lagi.

Saya sedih.

Written by: Ridhuan Abubakar @ Diwant

2008 is gone, enter 2009. Since writing become one of my weapon, I felt this is a right time to shoot down some words on how 2008 went for me, and why 2009 should be better than last. Like everyone else, a year cannot be seen as going up or down all the way, at some point there is a time where the progress gone backwards against your will. But this is what it’s all about, LIFE.

There was nothing much to shout about in the first few months, until probably the biggest event of the year, the 12th General Election. After much talk of change and rigorous or best to say ‘dirtiest’ campaign, in the end the government remains the same, minus 5 including 4 of the wealthiest states in the country that falls down to the opposition. While federal powers and antics still in the hands of the Master-servant Alliance, the general political landscape did change quite dramatically last seen in 1969 they say.

One of my targets for 2008 was to finally start a business, whether on a full time or part time basis. Thanks to Radzi and his Pixelworks Photography & Design brand, my participation into the team can be said as a highlight of the year. Although it is only on a part time basis, I see that as a platform for better things to come, some sort of a breakthrough. This year also marks a new addition to my collection of equipment, a sexy 17-40 f4 L lens which was quite a big investment comparing to my financial status. But it was worth all the money that the capital was recovered within the same year, alhamdulillah.

I’ve been saying this all the time, that driving is a passion for me. While some argued that driving is just a journey from point A to point B, I say the most important thing is HOW you go from point A to point B. And plus my deep interest in motor racing since my childhood days, 2008 became a year where I made karting a monthly routine. It is an expensive hobby no doubt about it, but trading it with the safety on the normal road? I’ll do it anytime mate. Go-karting brings out the best of you.

No doubt about it in work terms, it was the busiest, hectic and stressed year in my life yet. 2 big, I mean BIG projects in just over a year with limited resources do take its toll on the quality of my life and I paid dearly for it. Plus minor projects and site supervision throughout the year, definitely at one point something slipped down my grasp. But instead something let me go. Well it’s always the best decision if you’re firm about it don’t you?

So because of that we made a decision to go for a vacation, a very good vacation. The usual suspects were me, Zaidi, Nizar, Jay & Manchi. Destination? The peaceful and beautiful island of Tioman. It was a refreshing trip to free your mind and reflect your life while snorkling, island hopping and playing cards. The ‘boat-hugging’ drama was definitely the highlight of the trip. Only those who witnessed it can tell what its like to hug a boat with your bare hands, hahaha. Thanks to those who made the trip, it was so enjoyable that 3 days felt like 8 hours (a cliché’ thing).

After our ‘master’ decided that RM2.70 p/liter is the best way to help the ’servant’ combating their (and mine) economic mess, I also decided to do something about it. So after about 3 years I decided to move out and find somewhere else for the better of my economy and time management. Thinking back, it was the right decision to make and everything just went from OK to good from there on.

Hari raya this year feels like any other years where nothing special or significant happened. Just a family trip up to Penang, visiting relatives and friends. One thing that slackens the whole thing was my little sister, being so little she made a stunt that nobody in their right frame of mind would like to see or do. She deserves the punishment though. This year’s Futsal Raya was a surprise success, last seen in 2004, where attendance was recorded at probably 26 in total.

October 2008 also marks the month where me, with, Nizar, Zaidi & Manchi went to MotoGP at Sepang for the first time.

After successfully navigating clear from a volatile year, why not celebrate it with something that gives me the support all the while, FRIENDS. So, I throw a BBQ party sort of thing to celebrate and a mark of thankfulness to those who has been with me and for me whenever possible. Without them I don’t know how my year was going to end up. Thanks to those who made it to my place that night and hopefully you guys enjoy the home made food thanks to youtube (especially the chicken marinade preparation). InsyaAllah this year we can do something better or bigger so more people can come and have a good time.

After almost 6 years in the working environment, I believe that 2008 was a breakthrough year for something big ahead. Few projects has been planned for next year and a few people who are involved in it would like to see 2009 where it finally kicks off. And as I’d experienced it, you can never get everything you wanted. There is always a trade-off, a compromise you had to make or face, and you cannot complain, because we are not perfect, we are just human and we have our limit. In some areas in my life, I believe I’d reached the limit.

As the stock market suggest, last year for me was full of sharp increase and shock downturn, as volatile as the green lines on the board. Never take things for granted and don’t ask too much if you NEVER want to commit to it. Moderation is the way of life as our religion would tell you. But alhamdulillah the year ends quite on a high. Does it mean ‘the storm before the calm’? I’m praying for it, I’m begging for it! Let us all turn a new leaf of life and work for the better. It’s 2009/1430 bai, let’s do it…

http://www.mlm-thetruth.com/30typicalMLMmisrepresentations.htm

This is a good site to counter ANY arguements these con artist (CA) can possibly think of. And I think it’s worth reading. I know, the CA will always say, “they say that because they fail”, so they suggest we listen to the one who succeed. But, the FACT is most of all (some 88%) the ppl who invested in the scheme has lost their money, so where do we gonna find the 12% that succeed? YOU? I f**cking doubt it mate. Even with a bank statement of RM50 000 in saving will not convinced me. Not even a BMW you drive won’t convince me that you’re one of the 12% in this scheme that succeed. Not in this world…

One more thing that quite get to my nerve is, why all these ’successful’ con artist ALWAYS drives a BMW? Why they don’t drive Mercedes, McLaren, Pagani Zonda, Bentley, or a modest Honda NSX? I don’t want to speculate, but it’s mind boggling… Just look at http:??www.rm5je.com . They even put a BMW on their fornt page. hahahahahahaha….

SECTION 2

Let me describe how to possibly identify these Pyramid Scheme (PS) con artists (CA) and how to face them without ended up in a fight. A typical PS CA will:

- wear long-sleeved collar shirt (mostly stripes with colorful color combination)

- wear black or beige slacks or khakis

- wear black gloss shoes (usually from uptown which cost RM30)

- wear Patek phillipe, Rolex, Omega, Britling, TAG fake watches

- bring a hard transparent file with papers & calculator

- Probably between 24 - 35 years of age

And they will:

- sit in a group of between 3 to 50 people

- Constantly writing something on a paper, most notable is the triangle shape which represents the pyramid

(in case you still not convince it’s a pyramid scheme)

- on some cases show up a piece of slip claims to be their bank account which has at least RM50000 ofsavings

- show a pamphlet showing the range of product they’re selling

- lepak at a mamak stall near the towers every night until late

Have you seen the people with the above description lately? These CA are not short of advise nor motivation thanks to the extensive training provided by the HQ/ uplines. They will tell successful stories of their colleagues and uplines which are mostly lies. I remember a talk I attended long time ago, where there is this session where all the successful CA come to the front and start talking about how they started from below, the struggle until they are proud to own a BMW. In 10 people that gives the talk, mostly are the same storyline, just different in timeline and environment. Some say if you don’t do MLM, then your eyes are not wide open. So, all the Professors, Scientist, Astronauts and architects who did not join this scheme are close minded and don’t know how to make money?

I’ve been approach by a guy, pretending to be some kind of a low-profile big-time MLM success stories. Basically, if he knows how to make money from MLM, then surely his eyes are wide f**king open. Then he asks me what do I do for a living, I said interior design. Then he stumbles, quite speechless for about 5 seconds. He seems lost with the words I just said. With the millions you can make with this ‘business’, you still don’t know what is Interior Design? Then how the f**k does this ‘business’ opens up your mind my friend? Then a guy who supposed to be the upline the guy just now came to me, saying that he’d done this because of desperation, in dire need for money. His exact sentences were like this:

“Saya dulu masa baru- baru kawin mmg susah bang. Nak carik duit bukan senang, bayar bil, keta semua. Saya dulu macam abang jugak, pakai sluar jeans dengan t shirt, tapi sekarang alhamdulillah lepas buat benda ni, boleh pakai ’smart- smart’ sikit. Boleh la hidup bang.”

Do you notice the way he describe my dressing’s like? And how he looks at other person who does not join this scheme? From THAT point, I have lost all respect for these Con Artist and their f**king ‘business’ or ‘opportunity’ or whatever f**k you want to call them. I’ve chocked all this while seeing people being conned in front of my bare eyes, and I think now the lies stops!

My conclusion is, while this is highly subjective, no matter if the program you join is legal or illegal, pyramid scheme or multi level, the amount of effort you put into it is not worth what you get back. While you are proud of the thousands you made, your uplines are laughing their asses off to the bank with millions in their pocket thanks to your hard work. I still believe, in 50 peoples who joins the scheme, about 44 person (88%) who forms the pyramid will lose their money or not getting anything back from their investment. And I believe that everyone who read this is among the 88% that didn’t make it. Ask your self where are you now?

I know there are some people who read this article, although did not like my writing, see this as an opportunity for them to persuade me. Because they see my writing is full of emotional outburst and anger, so they think emotional people are easily get carried away. They think I might easily get carried away if ’something new’ or ‘fresh’ being offered. Well, let me tell you something, f**k you.

Although I accept constructive criticism, they also have to prepare to accept constructive criticism. There are millions of ways to become rich. MLM, pyramid scheme or whatever you want to call them is one tiny branch of that many ways. While you might get filthy rich by doing this, there are people who make a million dollar simply on luck like winning the jackpot. It’s rare, but it happens anywhere.

So, by joining this scheme or not is not a matter of ‘didn’t see the real world’ or ‘not open minded enough’, its a matter of conviction. It’s either you want to join because money is your god, or you don’t join because you have other tings more beneficial to do and money comes along with it. To think that this is the only and legitimate way to making wealth is absolutely absurd at the very best…

Open your eyes salesman…

SECTION 1

This thing never attracts my attention at all until recently. A couple of unfortunate ‘friends’ (who they claim to be) thought that I was some guy who just set afoot in KL from a jungle somewhere in east Peninsular, hoping that I would be interested to make some ’side income’. Well, I just let them give it a try.

Some say its ‘business’, some con artist calls it’s ‘networking’, and to the extreme level of stupidity, they say it ‘opportunity’. In those 3 words they think hard to describe about the nature of what they’re doing, the terms ‘opportunity’ is the most laughable of all. Opportunity for what? Becoming a millionaire by your 28th birthday? Let’s get the fact straight, it isn’t business like others nor networking, it is Multi-Level-Marketing, or to be completely honest, it’s ‘The Pyramid Scheme’. It does not get any better than that isn’t it? It gives them massive goose bumps if you mention ‘pyramid scheme’ to them, so let us try to be polite to them by not to mention anything that resembles pyramid or get-rich-scheme. Most of the people that are more likely to approach you with this scam are your friends, relatives or colleagues. I’ve seen how friends become foes because of this shit. I’ve also witness how people fall into the trap because they’ve been ‘possessed’ by the sweet talk of these con artist, and some generous chap simply pay the joining fees just to shut them up. We are not talking about small amount here, the joining fees may range from RM30 to a massive RM3000. I’ve seen them.

Now, on the outskirt, you may want to ask, ‘What differentiate Multi-Level-Marketing and Pyramid Scheme?’ These con artists (CA) will be more than happy to explain it to you if you ask them. But first, they need to gather a group of people (probably between 2-15) before they start explaining to you, so you may feel intimidated by their presence and hopefully prevent you from asking too many questions. It also helps the person who’re explaining to you to tell fake success stories of their counterpart while they are around, so you may feel like some kind of real time experience.

What differerentiate Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) and Pyramid Scheme (PS) can be found in this article at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi_level_marketing

and

http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/other/dvimf16.shtm

CA will tell you that MLM is different because MLM sells product, while PS isn’t. They will also tell you that these items are rare and cannot be found in other market except from them. The product comes at a certain price, usually at an fucking inflated price. Example, a piece of cheap glass with some ‘glowing thing’ cost you around Rm1000. But to get it at that price, you have to be a member of this scam. Now here’s the trick. To join the scam, there is a joining fee you have to pay on top of the mandatory purchase of the Rm1000 shit. The joining fee?, another Rm1000. So, to buy that shit cost you RM2000 alone. What sense does this scam make?

Then the CA will tell you, if you manage to sell these items, you’ll get a commission. The more you sell, the higher the commission. But, who the fuck is going to buy this piece of crap for Rm1000? I’m already broke by buying this shit, how do I expect other people to buy this without asking too much questions? Here’s the marvel of the MLM/PS. Once you get deeper in their organization, meaning more involved in the gatherings or frequently attending the talks, they will tell you EXACTLY what this scam is all about. They will tell that you don’t actually have to sell these things. All you need to do is find another person to join this scam. No need to sell, just ask them to join. The joining fee? RM2000. For every person you managed to sign-up, you’ll get a small amount of commission. The person you’d signed-up is called downline. Then, when the downline managed to sign another person, you’ll also get a share of the commission, until the pyramid becomes bigger and unsustainable. And then they will happily tell you ‘This is how we got rich!’. For every Rm2000 your downline pays to join, they’ll get a product worth about RM200, and you’ll get a commission of around RM500. That RM700 of ‘cost’ the company has to fork out in return of RM1300 to their pocket just from ONE PERSON in the pyramid. Of course you’ll get your share, but compare it to the total amount of the uplines, CEOs, directors, old-timers of this scam get from the thousands of downline that’s been conned, just like you? Think about it. This is a Pyramid Scheme, the product is just a diversion from the real strategy on how they con people.

If this is really business, why the joining fees at the first place? If it is networking, why the product as the core business? Opportunity? What opportunity? Opportunity to become rich? The opportunity is actually for the pioneers, the directors to make millions out of those hopefuls who just came out from a jungle in east Peninsular. If you read the link, it says with mathematics calculation, 88% of the people in the pyramid will loose their money, meaning you, and the 12% will get their return, meaning the directors and the pioneers. Of the probable thousands ringgit you’re going to make if you are really really really lucky , those uplines already made hundred of millions of ringgit from your hard work. For the RM1300 you ‘gave’ them, they’ll return the favour by giving you a ‘box of candy’ of Rm500. WAKE UP MATE!!!

In the next column, I’ll tell you the realities of the pyramid schemes in KL and how to possibly identify a con artist…

In order to get on with our lives, we can’t look back and regret the mistakes we’ve done and try to fix it back. We have to learn from it and try to be better in the future. Some say it’s easier to say than done, but that’s the only way to move on with our lives.

Women teaches men to be men, expose our weaknesses, and as a reflection of who we actually are. They tests our patience, critical of our movement, and provocative towards our judgment, but that is just how they are. We can’t change that nor try to mature them, but as a man, we have to adapt to it, and try to get the best out of what we have. The key word here is ‘try’. Always give your best, but not everything. When people say life’s not perfect, this is what they actually mean.

There are men who falls into the category of ‘the perfect gentleman’, in simple terms, a person who will always say ‘yes’ to women, no matter how bad the asking is. These people usually lacks principle, but very lovable among women.  The other category will be the not-so-gentleman type. These people are firm with their stands, mostly because they know what they’re talking about, and as a man, they know the responsibility of protecting his ‘property’. They don’t always agree with their other half, but once they do, the effect can be to great effect simply because the decision is strong. Some women see this as a threat to their ego. These men don’t have many women around them, but once they have it, they only plan for the best. Sadly, not all women can see that.

Love is part of life, it is NOT life. It teaches us, but it does not define us…

1. Pulp Fiction

2. The Rock

3. Transformers

4. Bourne: Ultimatum

5. JFK

6. Ocean’s 12

7. Bourne Identity

8. The Matrix

9. Back to The Future 3

10.

(comments coming soon)